Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude is stepping down as an MP after three decades – but he's gearing up for a comeback in the Lords.
He's widely expected to be handed a peerage soon when the leaders of the three main parties draw up an honours list to mark the end of the parliament.
There has been speculation that Maude will keep his current ministerial role if he moves to the Lords and the Tories stay in power.
But senior Conservative party figures told BuzzFeed News that he is setting his sights even higher and positioning himself to be appointed leader of the Lords within a year.
A well-placed source said: "He's keen to rise the ranks in the upper house. With so many high-profile figures choosing to stay on the backbenches, he thinks he would be a big fish in a small pond."
The key post of Lords leader is currently taken by Tina Stowell, who's best known for steering the same-sex marriage bill through the House.
But figures within No. 10 believe she's failed to make a big enough impact with the prime minister – and Maude has sensed his opportunity to take over.
Another Tory source said: "Of course, it's a matter for the prime minister. But it doesn't seem beyond the realms of possibility. Obviously he'd be most keen to keep his current role – he really enjoys it."
Maude, 61, himself signalled that he was keen to accept a ministerial role in the Lords when he announced his resignation as an MP last month.
"Public service continues to exercise great appeal," he said. "We've driven through a major programme of reform but there is much to do to ensure that it is irreversible."
As Cabinet Office minister, Maude has continually battled with Whitehall officials over civil service reform. He has been Tory MP for Horsham since 1997, after representing North Warwickshire between 1983 and 1992.